All posts tagged ‘Spock’

Every corner of fandom has one-liners that have seeped into the consciousness of society, becoming universally recognizable. Of course, Star Trek is no different.

Here is a list of 28 Star Trek one-liners of which most people are aware. Some of these quotes have made their way into other areas of pop-culture. Some of these quotes have been paraphrased. Some have been used by judges when giving verdicts. There may be one, or two, on the list that escape some people.

Fans of Star Trek, and geeks in general, are very familiar with the battle of Kirk versus Picard. In honor of Star Trek: The Next Generation‘s 25th anniversary on September 28, 2012, let’s pit three additional Star Trek: The Original Series senior officers against three Star Trek: The Next Generation senior officers. Who wins and why?

Kirk versus Picard
I’ll probably be called a cheater for this one, but I have never been able to choose. To do so would be like picking a favorite child. I simply do not have one. They are both nerds — though the fact that Kirk is highly intellectual often gets overshadowed by the fact he is having sex with every female alien he encounters, and spends a lot of time talking with his fists. But when Kirk isn’t busy participating “cowboy diplomacy,” he is not only intellectual, but sensitive. Picard is every bit as forceful as Kirk, however he is ever the eloquent diplomat. They were men representing two different eras, both equally effective for their time.

Spock versus Data
Yet again, you can call me a cheater because I cannot choose. That would be like asking which part of my personality I love more. I love each aspect of myself equally. Like Spock, I, too, have emotions. However, they are not readily accessible. When the emotions do appear, I never know what to do them. I feel like I’m malfunctioning. Up until the character of Data, I, like Spock, had a really difficult time accepting the human part of me. Then Data showed me that it is okay to both not understand humans — their emotions, their humor, be driven by logic, and more — but still want to strive towards humanity.

Today, according to respected Holmes scholar Christopher Morley, is Sherlock Holmes’ birthday. This is based on the fact that while Holmes quotes William Shakespeare often, he only quotes one play twice: Twelfth Night.

A classic Sidney Paget drawing of Sherlock Holmes

Holmes, now age 158, is enjoying a renaissance this year, with the series Sherlock, which has just stared airing a second season in the UK and the success of Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows starring Robert Downey Jr.

It’s fascinating to note that Benedict Cumberbatch, who plays Holmes on Sherlock, has just been cast as the villain in the new Star Trek movie. Why? Because Spock claimed himself to be a descendant of Sherlock Holmes. “An ancestor of mine,” he said in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, “once said that once you have eliminated the impossible whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.”

I would theorize that Cumberbatch will be playing an immortal Sherlock Holmes in the new Trek.

If you don’t know how to fill in the rest of that quote, shame on you. Yes, I’m being horribly judgmental but I am an avowed Star Wars fan and that quote is one of the biggies. It’s right up there with “Use the Force, Luke!” and “I’ve got a very bad feeling about this.” I think it’s fair to say that having at least a few Star Wars quotes in your repertoire of witty comebacks is a geek essential.

I could write this whole post about Star Wars quotes alone, but that would mean ignoring some of my favorites from elsewhere in the geekverse. There’s Star Trek, and Firefly, and The Terminator, and Monty Python, and, and, and…. actually I could probably write a book. I don’t have the time today, though, given Christmas presents like Star Wars: The Old Republic and Lego Mindstorms demanding my attention. So instead, here are just a few of my favorites. Not afraid you won’t know them all? You will be, you WILL be….

“Use the Force, Luke!”

Really, if you don’t know this one, then how on earth did you even find this blog? I should not need to tell you this but it’s from Star Wars: A New Hope because it’s the biggest, most important quote in all of geek history with endless potential for use in daily conversation. Co-worker can’t get his file cabinet open? Struggling to get the lid of a jar of pickles? Can’t quite reach the genuine replica lightsaber on your mantle? All these moments are perfect opportunities to break out this quote.

“The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one.”

No one could forget Spock uttering this phrase as he was overcome by radiation after saving the Enterprise in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Then there’s the slow slide down the glass as he collapses to the floor and dies. Wait, I need a minute. This quote encompasses the essence of all that is Star Trek. The Federation is not about power and privilege, but about making the galaxy a better place and sacrificing for the common good. Use this one to con your friends into doing anything, from seeing a movie they don’t want to see to giving you the last piece of pizza because you need it more. Try it, you’ll see.

“I aim to misbehave.”

A bit newer on the scene, but still an essential geek quote spoken by Captain Malcolm Reynolds on the short-lived Firefly television series. Unlike Spock or Obi-Wan’s lines, there’s no depth of meaning behind this one. It’s a simple statement of the intent to have fun, cause trouble, and wreak a certain amount of gleeful havoc. Hey, New Year’s Eve is just a few days away, a moment designed for this quote if ever there was one.

“My precious!”

If you ask Gollum, this line refers to The One Ring in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, but you can use it to refer to just about anything. It might be something amazing like a shiny new car or something you intend to take before your friends get the chance–like the last piece of pizza. If you want it, then it’s your precious. The key here is that you not only can but must use a creepy, scratchy Gollum-like voice to deliver this line.

“Have fun storming the castle!”

This is one of those movies that, if you watch it once, you can’t help but find yourself quoting forever. The Princess Bride is chock full of memorable quotes, but this is one easy to sneak into conversations. Send your kids off to school or your husband off to work with this cheery wish. Or, your co-workers on their way to what is sure to be a long, boring meeting or evening commute home.

This is by no means an all-inclusive list, like I said, that would require a book, but these are certainly my favorite and easiest-to-use quotes. If you know them all, 10 Geek Points to you! (And if you’re still wondering about that first one, watch the clip below.)

More importantly, what would you add as essential quotes for every geek to master?

I love Spock. He is my favorite Star Trek character ever. Across every series, every movie, every everything, he is my favorite. I had a ridiculous crush on Wesley Crusher and swoon every time I see Wil Wheaton at a con, but it’s not the same thing because, well, Wesley was a bit annoying. Even the cuteness of Wheaton could not overcome that hurdle. Spock, on the other hand, was wonderful. The one raised eyebrow. The pointy ears. The Vulcan greeting. And of course, the words that belong to him more than any other Vulcan, “Live long and prosper.” Sadly, Leonard Nimoy is retiring and made his final convention appearance last weekend in Rosemont, Illinois.

He has been attending conventions for nearly fifty years, so he is more than entitled to take a break. Nimoy has always embraced and respected Spock rather than looking back and cringing at the character that made him famous. It always saddens me when actors write off the characters that made them, treating them with disdain as they reflect on their thriving careers, but not Nimoy. He has always had an appreciation for Star Trek, for Spock, and for his fans.

I never had the chance to meet him in person despite how frequently Star Trek conventions came my way at one time. They were constantly advertised on TV and although I had the best intentions, I never made it to the convention floor. I guess I always thought there would be a next time. Even though it’s likely that next time will never come now, I am happily falling in love with Spock all over again thanks to my kids and Netflix.

We’ve been making our way through from the beginning, just like I made my way through reruns of the original series with my Dad. We’d just gotten into The Next Generation and I asked my daughters how they liked it compared to the original series. They said it was fine, but I could tell they weren’t as excited. I mentioned this, and the littlest asked “Where’s Spock?” so I told her he wasn’t in this one. She gave me a little pouty face and said “Oh, I wanted Spock.” I couldn’t agree with her more. Even the youngest among us know a good thing when they see it. Thank you for bringing Spock to life, Mr. Nimoy, and enjoy your much deserved retirement. LLAP

Yesterday was the 45th Anniversary of Star Trek, so all sorts of Trekkie goodness was floating around the web. Our own Julia Sherred wrote up a wonderful post complete with video that would make even a green-blooded Vulcan cry. If you happened to have been on Twitter then you might have seen the folks at NASA (the real boldly go people) wishing the original castmembers a happy anniversary and thanking them for the inspiration. Geeks everywhere were greeting each other with “Live Long and Prosper” and spouting their favorite lines at every opportunity. But if you happened to be a baker with geeky tendencies named Darla, like the woman behind www.Bakingdom.com, then you celebrated by making the most amazing batch of Star Trek cookies in Federation territory. I only wish I had the talent and patience to make cookies this cute. If you think you’re up for the challenge, you can see exactly how she did it and then try to create your own adorable and tasty crew. Engage!

As part of our Sexuality and the Geek Week, I thought it would be fun to pose the question of which characters in popular SF/F stories is most worthy of being a romantic partner.

Up first is the series that launched some of the first fanfiction ‘ships, Star Trek.

Kirk or Spock, which would be your choice?

Kirk:

Pros: Energetic, intelligent, fun-loving with a great sense of humor. Seems to gain nearly superhuman powers if his shirt is ripped. Creative thinker, which might provide some fun in intimate activities.

Cons: Imperious and arrogant at times. Relationships come second to his command, as the Enterprise is his true mistress.

Spock:

Pros: Extremely intelligent and loyal. Stronger than the average person and seems to posses a nice singing voice. Plus, the repressed types often let loose in a private setting.

Cons: Dedicated to not showing or even admitting to emotions, including love. The need to mate only strikes once every seven years, though apparently being half-human, he can choose differently. Duty comes before love.

I may be the last person to find out Ravelry, a great social network for knitters and crocheters. My sister-in-law told me about it recently and now I’m hooked. Quick searches revealed the most wonderful of geeky crafts, none better than Spocks.